tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-304560392008-06-26T19:08:22.472-04:00Robert's Market ReportBob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-35878918111994646902008-06-26T17:30:00.003-04:002008-06-26T19:08:23.213-04:00
Trickle to rivulet to torrent
The trickle of summer fruits I wrote about before the summer solstice is turning into a rivulet. Soon we'll have a raging torrent.
Over at the Fairmount & 22nd Market today, Sam Stoltzfus offered black raspberries at $3.95/pint; Earl Livengood had his organic raspberries for a little bit more. Bill Weller was selling what may be the season's last strawberries, Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-9176379875741223842008-06-16T11:44:00.003-04:002008-06-16T13:04:51.875-04:00Hail The Summer Solstice!
As the solstice approaches (this coming Friday, 7:59 p.m.), summer fruits are trickling into the marketplace.
Local cucumbers (yes, it's a fruit, not a vegetable, though we tend to treat it as the latter, just as we do the tomato) could be found at both the RTM (Benuel Kauffman's Lancaster County Produce) and a couple of stands at Headhouse Square (A.T. Buzby, among Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-25822492141194463132008-06-06T14:21:00.008-04:002008-06-09T14:35:43.857-04:00Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
It's pretty hard not to contain myself this time of year when visiting the Reading Terminal Market or one of the farmers' markets around town. Kind of like the stress-inducing choices She Who Must Be Obeyed and I faced on our honeymoon in St. Martin. Do we sun by the pool? Or maybe the lagoon? Or the ocean front? Decisions, decisions, decisions!
Only this time, Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-27755567618826506902008-06-02T13:17:00.003-04:002008-06-02T13:38:34.286-04:00Rick's Steaks Exits Market Oct. 31
Rick Olivieri has until Oct. 31 -- Halloween -- to serve cheese steaks at the Reading Terminal Market.
Under the terms of a settlement announced in court before trial was to begin this morning, Olivieri will avoid being on the hook for nearly $700,000 in the RTM's legal fees if he vacates the market peaceably. (Olivieri's own legal fees are understood to be inBob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-70967452458400473892008-05-30T00:01:00.009-04:002008-05-30T17:34:46.601-04:00Rick's Trial Begins Monday
Summary Judgments, Pre-trial Orders Back Market On All Major Issues
The Whiz might be flying when the dispute between Rick's Steaks and the Reading Terminal Market finally goes to trial Monday, but as far as the legal issues are concerned, it's all over but the shouting, of which there may be a lot.
A review of the report of docket entries on the Court of Common PleasBob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-32755449504082065132008-05-29T15:27:00.006-04:002008-05-29T22:23:21.105-04:00
RTM Butcher Closing
Dutch Country Meats is throwing in the towel at the Reading Terminal Market. A combination of poor volume, management issues and personal concerns has caused proprietor Jake Fisher to shut down his operation after this Saturday. Jake took over the business from prior owners about a year ago.
Jake has tried to make a go of it, bringing in German wurstgescheft specialties Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-51007465398201485672008-05-27T12:42:00.003-04:002008-05-27T12:51:58.223-04:00Memorial Day Weekend Marketing
With the holiday weekend, traffic seemed just a little slow at both the RTM and Headhouse Square: not dead, mind you, just a tad less frenetic.
Which doesn't mean there weren't wonderful foodstuffs to acquire at either one.
Blooming Glen has been back at Headhouse for the past couple weeks, displacing Weaver's Way as the anchor produce vendor at the Lombard Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-60523798958922213642008-05-17T11:28:00.004-04:002008-05-17T18:43:21.597-04:00Clark Park Offers Choice Choices
With more than half a dozen vendors selling fresh produce this early in the season, Clark Park Market in University City/West Philadelphia offers plenty of choice. I stopped by at opening at this year-round farmers' market sponsored by The Food Trust for the first time and was impressed by the quality. Flower vendors and bakers supplemented the produce stalls, Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-16966188597724272812008-05-13T13:07:00.003-04:002008-05-13T13:24:43.785-04:00'Dinner: Impossible' visits RTM
Cleveland Chef Michael Symons, tagged by a crew including three cameras and assorted production folks, visited the Reading Terminal Market this morning for an installment of Food TV's "Dinner: Impossible." Symons, an Iron Chef America champ, succeeds as program' protagonist prevaricator Robert Irvine.
The goal in this episode: cook a meal for residents of a Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-42107186010701073942008-05-11T12:44:00.004-04:002008-05-11T14:17:49.914-04:00Ripe and Ready
Strawberries Hit Headhouse
It's only 35 miles from Woodstown, in South Jersey's Salem County, to Center City Philadephia. I'm sure glad A.T. Buzby Farm made the trip to Headhouse Square this morning, especially with the load of red, ripe, sweet and flavorful early strawberries they brought along.
Although we're likely to see even more intensively flavored berries in a couple Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-84021124615867646532008-05-09T17:49:00.002-04:002008-05-09T18:40:10.820-04:00Four Vendors Open Fairmount Market Season
Let them eat bread!
Each year, on the Saturday nearest Bastille Day, rowdy Fairmount residents gather in the street in front of Eastern State Penteniary's gate, demanding that Marie Antoinette be put to the guillotine. But before she is sliced and diced, Marie (played by London Grill co-owner Terry McNally) advises the rabble to eat cake, then promptly Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-74799359376476953462008-05-09T10:40:00.003-04:002008-05-09T11:17:01.190-04:00Aviator Park Market Opens
The sign says it all: first berries of the season. Highland Orchards Farm proudly displayed these gargantuan strawberries at the first day of the Aviator Park market, not just of the season, but ever.
The Food Trust established the new market at the urging of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association. The market, located on 20th street across from the Franklin Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-61870003346420888552008-05-04T23:10:00.008-04:002008-05-05T14:35:58.189-04:00Headhouse Square Opens Season With 25 Vendors
The Food Trust began its 2008 farmers' market season with a bang: 25 vendors showed up for opening day at Headhouse Square Sunday. Considering how early it is in the growing season, that's a phenomenal turnout.
Among the returnees, whose wares are featured in photos at the right: Queens Farm, with their mushrooms and Asian greens, and Versailles Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-79125881627560971882008-05-04T12:30:00.006-04:002008-05-04T23:08:32.072-04:00Lilac Time at Livengood's
A couple of bushes worth of French and common lilacs brought a delightful fragrance to center court at the RTM yesterday, tended by Joyce Livengood (right). She was selling the French lilacs for $12 a bunch, the common lilacs for $9.50 (two for $18). Livengood's might have them available again next Saturday.
Also on sale at Livengood's this week was Earl's deep greenBob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-46656445087850691892008-05-02T10:07:00.002-04:002008-05-02T11:13:55.317-04:00Reprise on Morels!
April showers bring May flowers. And May morels.
Sam Consylman called last night to say the heavy rains earlier this week in Lancaster County caused an explosion of morels. Indeed, Sam quipped that he "ate $10,000 worth" over the last few days. At $85/pound, that's a lot of mushrooms (more than 117 pounds' worth). Okay, so maybe Sam was indulging in a bit of hyperbole, at Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-86846241464866773372008-04-26T12:28:00.004-04:002008-04-28T10:33:06.761-04:00Morels Arrive!
The phone rang at 6:30 a.m. yesterday, long before I had intended to greet the new day. But Sam Consylman was preparing to go out mushroom foraging and didn't want to wait to relay his news.
The morels have popped in Lancaster County, reported Sam, forager extraordinaire. Not very large, but plentiful enough to pick in the local wood. Earl Livengood would sell what Sam picked Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-4047151746725638042008-04-25T17:55:00.005-04:002008-04-25T18:14:49.577-04:00Talula's Table & Other Headhouse News
Talula's Table will among the vendors at the Sunday Headhouse Square market this season. They brought their sausages to the West Chester farmers' market last year and decided to further expand for 2008. The Kennett Square characuterie and market does merguez (lamb sausage), game sausage, parma, salamis and other cured meats, along with dips and mustards.
Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-38709329824702235162008-04-25T09:37:00.002-04:002008-04-25T09:41:43.218-04:00Farmers' Market Schedule update
The Food Trust still hasn't posted its schedule, but there is one, sent to me by Nicky Uy, project manager. I've created an web version and you can find it here.Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-37928545686968521802008-04-23T17:11:00.003-04:002008-04-24T09:21:46.377-04:00New Farmers Markets This Season
There will be new markets this season at City Hall and near Jefferson Hospital, sponsored by Farm to City.
FTC's Bob Pierson says he's lined up three "definite" vendors as of earlier this week for City Hall: Fruitwood Orchards (a South Jersey berry, tree fruit, garden vegetable producer), Pumpkin Ridge (cut flowers), and Better Together Bakery (from Havertown). Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-50699693891304685392008-04-21T13:27:00.003-04:002008-04-21T13:32:01.688-04:00Asparagus Arrives
Local asparagus made its debut last week at Earl Livengood's, Fair Food Farmstand, and Kauffman's Lancaster County Produce, with prices ranging from $2.25 to $5.99/pound (though it's usually priced by the bunch; I figured the range by weighing some bunches, which usually clocked in at about a pound.
Iovine Brother's Produce carried ramps last week at $3.99/bunch, but by Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-27860002356301088382008-04-12T12:15:00.002-04:002008-04-12T12:29:50.252-04:00The Season Inexorably Proceeds
Another sure sign of warmer weather (as if we needed confirmation of what the thermometer says): soft shell crabs. John Yi had them today, at $6 apiece (or two for $10).
As promised in its weekly email, wild garlic could be had at Fair Food Farmstand. Over at Benuel Kauffman's Lancaster County Produce, local greenhouse tomatoes have appeared. Missing in action Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-63640515281558734792008-04-06T23:06:00.002-04:002008-04-06T23:13:52.168-04:00RTM May Get Grocer Again
The new occupant of what was formerly Margerum's and, more recently, The Natural Connection, likely will be Dave Schreiber, owner of Jonathan's Best in Chestnut Hill. As of last week no lease agreement was signed, but the only remaining details to be worked out were some product offering specifics. Although everyone's optimistic, that could be a deal-breaker.
Jonathan Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-86696056070429313302008-03-28T06:33:00.003-04:002008-03-28T07:06:17.996-04:00Enjoying the fruit of the South
I'm in Savannah this week, so no Philadelphia-centric market report until after my return.
There's nothing even resembling a public market here. The one place called that, City Market, is an attempt to bring back the days when there was a central gathering place for grocers, produce sellers, etc., and it's a fine place to meander into the souvenir and candy shopsBob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-44110872738620160562008-03-22T11:16:00.002-04:002008-03-22T11:43:27.158-04:00Spring fever
It's officially spring. No, I don't mean the movement of the tilt of the Earth on its axis to create the vernal equinox.
No, the true sign of spring can be found at Earl Livengood's stand at the Reading Terminal Market. To eat, he offered young, tender dandelion greens this morning; to enjoy visually (or tactually) you could purchase pussy willows.
Over at Iovine Brothers, Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30456039.post-24608926031512148862008-03-13T00:35:00.002-04:002008-03-13T00:57:07.542-04:00It's not spring yet
A couple of interesting veggies popped up in Iovine Brothers' bins this week.
First, asparation. No, not as in a small burst of air, or the entry of secretion into the lungs. That's aspiration. I'm talking about asparation, which is the trademark name for broccolini, a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale. Didn't see a price, but given that it's a trademarked-veggie, I Bob Libkindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01241808771285715753noreply@blogger.com